Topic: Some universities offer online courses as an alternative to classes delivered on campus.

Do you
think this is a positive or negative development?

In many universities, distance learning through an online platform is provided for students as an option
to replace traditional classrooms. In my view, although such a development could be detrimental in a
number of ways, overall, I believe it to be an essential step forward.

On the one hand, this method of remote learning, without the need for regular face-to-face contact with
teachers in a classroom, is negative for two reasons. Firstly, students who study online do not develop
comprehensively in the way that other students who attend classes at school do. During online courses,
it is difficult for students to make friends or attempt to compete with their peers. This is often linked to
the fact that those learners seem to undervalue the significance of interaction and rivalry with
classmates in an educational environment, which are actually regarded as great stimuli for scholastic
success. Secondly, participants of online learning programs have a tendency to procrastinate more and
poorly allocate an appropriate amount of time to complete assignments. This form of studying requires
tremendous self-discipline as well as excellent organization and time management skills as students
usually struggle with balancing their coursework with other priorities, and quickly become unmotivated
without direct guidance from instructors.

On the other hand, online learning is proving to be a great alternative, although traditional universities
are still widely considered as the best way to acquire knowledge and a qualification. Access to all
resources within a traditional course is offered, which empowers learners to freely choose from a wide
range of different subjects, from science to economics. Furthermore, lower costs and the widespread
presence of the Internet allow unlimited numbers of participants, regardless of not only their financial
background but also current living location. For example, Coursera is a website that offers a variety of
courses at reasonable prices and presents valid certification for participants upon completion of each
course.

In conclusion, though there are some drawbacks to studying via online courses, I do believe that this
method is a revolutionary step in contemporary tertiary education systems.

1. Regular face-to-face contact with teachers in a classroom: tương tác trực tiếp với giáo viên trên lớp

2. The significance of interaction and rivalry with classmates in an educational environment: ý nghĩa
quan trọng của sự tương tác và cạnh tranh với bạn cùng lớp trong môi trường giáo dục

3. Tremendous self-discipline as well as excellent organization and time management skills: tính kỷ luật
cao cùng với kĩ năng kiểm soát thời gian và sắp xếp công việc hiệu quả

4. Access to all resources within a traditional course: Có thể truy cập tất cả các nguồn kiến thức trong
một khóa học truyền thống

5. Lower costs and the widespread presence of the Internet: giá rẻ và sự xuất hiện khắp nơi của Internet
Topic: In schools and universities, girls tend to choose arts while boys like science. What are the
reasons for this trend and do you think this tendency should be changed?

There has been a marked difference in subject preferences between girls, who often enroll in art based
courses, and boys, who have a tendency to study some form of science. There are a number of elements
that may cause this issue, and I personally feel that it is best not to apply any changes to this tendency.

The aforementioned situation can be attributed to gender-specific personalities and competence.

Firstly, female students are usually attracted to subjects that require tremendous self-discipline and
patience such as language classes while male students share a common interest in several fields that
need considerable analytical abilities to excel at, for example math or physics. Secondly, it has been
proven that each of the two sexes shows distinct competence and excellence in their favored subjects.
In general, most students prefer to choose classes that they are best at, which is why boys and girls
choose different courses to study

In my view, it is rather unnecessary to make changes to this trend. Initially, students choose the
environment where they can best cultivate their skills and abilities. Therefore, if they were forced to
take part in unwanted classes, it would produce undesirable outcomes, especially resentment or
negative attitudes toward study at school. Furthermore, students, regardless of gender, should have
their freedom to choose. In other words, they should be at liberty to decide what courses they can
attend so that they will feel that they are respected and listened to

In conclusion, distinct characteristics and differing levels of competence between males and females are
the main causes for the tendency toward choosing particular courses to study at schools and
universities, and I believe that students should be entitled to participate in any class they desire.

1. Gender-specific personalities and competence: năng lực và tính cách đặc trưng theo giới tính

2. Considerable analytical abilities: khả năng phân tích cao

3. Show distinct competence and excellence: có những năng lực và sự xuất sắc khác nhau

4. Cultivate their skills and abilities: nâng cao kỹ năng và khả năng

5. Resentment or negative attitude toward study at school: sự hằn học và thái độ tiêu cực với việc học ở
trường

6. To be entitled to participate in any class they desire: có quyền tham gia bất kì môn học nào mà họ
muốn

Topic: Nowadays young people spend too much of their free time in shopping malls. Some people fear
that this may have negative effects on young people and the society they live in. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?

As countries and cities become more and more developed, the occurrence of large shopping malls is on
the rise and due to factors such as advertising and boredom, young people are being lured into shopping
malls where they are aimlessly wasting their time and money. Personally, I believe that this can have a
number of detrimental impacts on young people and the society they live in

Firstly, by spending time in shopping malls, young people are exposing themselves to large amounts of
advertising and products which only drives their desire to purchase and consume more. Young people
will end up feeling that they need to have things that, in reality, they don’t, and this can create an
unhealthy state of mind, and a consumeristic attitude to life. As a result, the society they live in will
suffer from the many drawbacks of consumerism such as wasted energy and resources, and landfills full
of goods that have been overproduced.

Secondly, not only is spending too much time in shopping malls having a negative impact on the minds
of today’s youth, but it is also having many negative impacts on their physical health. Young people who
spend too much time wandering around shopping malls are missing out on important time that could be
spent outdoors playing sport or participating in other recreational activities. It is well known that those
who spend time outdoors involved in such activities mentioned above will enjoy a much healthier
lifestyle and be less at risk of suffering from a range of common diseases caused by a sedentary lifestyle,
such as obesity and diabetes.

In conclusion, I believe that parents need to spend more time teaching their children about the
importance of spending their free time wisely, and avoiding the pitfalls of a consumeristic lifestyle.

1. To be lured into: bị dụ dỗ làm gì

2. Aimlessly wasting their time and money: vung phí tiền bạc và thời gian

3. Exposing themselves to: làm cho chính họ

4. Drive their desire to purchase and consume more: làm cho họ muốn mua và tiêu dùng nhiều hơn

5. A consumeristic attitude: thái độ tiêu dùng quá đà

6. Suffer from the many drawbacks of consumerism: chịu những tác hại của chủ nghĩa tiêu dùng

7. A negative impact on the minds of today’s youth: ảnh hưởng tiêu cực vào tâm lý giới trẻ ngày nay

8. A sendentary lifestyle: lối sống ít vận động

Topic: Government should invest more money in science education rather than other subjects to
develop the country. Do you agree or disagree?

It is said that government funding for education should give preference to science-based subjects over
others, in an attempt to help boost a country’s future development and progress. Although an increase
in scientific developments can have many benefits to national progress, this essay disagrees that science
is the primary contributor.

There is no question that the advent of modern science has brought with it a number of improvements
to the way that countries and societies function. For example, increases in electrical and computer
based technologies have led to much more streamlined and efficient workplaces. Computers and
computerized machinery can now do the work of what would have previously been carried out by
humans, allowing greater efficiency and higher productivity output. Another benefit that modern
science has granted is the development of renewable energy. Sources of renewable energy, such as
solar and wind generated power, are beginning to help ease the planet’s reliance on fossil fuels.

That being said, an increase in scientific education and development must not be the main measure of a
country’s progress. It can be seen that the study of many other disciplines of education can also
attribute to a countries progress. Take, for example, the Arts and Humanities. Subjects such as History
and Philosophy have allowed us to gain a better understanding of humanity and can help to gain more
insight into how we can move forward as a race. Other subjects such as the Arts, allow societies and
individuals to express themselves creatively through mediums such as music, film and other art forms. It
can be argued that this can also help to improve the quality of people’s lives and therefore help towards
a countries overall development.

In conclusion, although developments in science have led to many beneficial advantages for most
countries, science alone is not the key contributor to a country’s progress. In my opinion, most countries
would benefit greater from a more well-rounded education, with emphasis on all disciplines, not only
that of science.

1. Boost a country’s future development and progress: Đẩy mạnh sự phát triển trong tương lại của một
quốc gia

2. The advent of modern science: Sự xuất hiện của khoa học hiện đại

3. Electrical and computer-based technology: Công nghệ điện tử máy tính

4. More streamlined and efficient workplaces: Nơi làm việc hiệu quả và tiết kiệm hơn

5. Greater efficiency and higher productivity output: Hiệu suất công việc tốt hơn và năng suất đầu ra cao
hơn

6. Ease the planet’s reliance on fossil fuels: Giảm dần sự phụ thuộc vào năng lượng hóa thạch

7. The main measure of a country’s progress: Thước đo chính cho sự phát triển của một quốc gia

8. Gain more insight into: Hiểu hơn về điều gì

9. Well-rounded education: Một nền giáo dụng toàn diện

Topic: Some people think international car-free days are an effective way of reducing air pollution;
however, others think there are other ways. Discuss both views and give your opinion

While international car-free days are thought to effectively reduce levels of air pollution, some people
believe that there are other alternatives that are more effective. This essay will discuss both of these
views.
It is true that exhaust fumes from cars are a major cause of air pollution as they contain a relatively high
proportion of pollutants such as CO2. By having some days without cars on the road, no harmful smoke
will be released into the atmosphere, and this will therefore improve the air quality. This policy is
extremely effective in big cities around the world, such as Beijing, which is well known for its dirty air
smog filled atmosphere. Since this car-free day policy has been introduced, the air quality of the city has
greatly improved.

On the other hand, local governments should try to further encourage the use of public transport, such
as subways and buses, as they effectively produce a smaller quantity of pollutants, which in turn is less
likely to impact the air quality. In addition to this, the disposal of waste, especially plastic waste which
emits toxic fumes if burned, should be closely regulated and monitored. The final and most effective
way of reducing air pollution is to use sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy sources, such as
solar or wind power, to replace fossil fuels in the long term.

In my view, these measures are all effective in addressing the problem of air pollution, but only to a
certain extent. Such a problem needs to be dealt with by a number of different approaches and I believe
that only implementing one approach will be ineffective.

1. Exhaust fumes: Khí thải

2. Relatively high proportion of pollutants: Hàm lượng chất gây ô nhiễm cao

3. Encourage the use of public transport: Khuyến khích sử dụng phương tiện giao thông công cộng

4. Plastic waste: Chất thải plastic

5. Emit toxic fumes: Thải ra khí độc

6. Use sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources: Sử dụng những nguồn năng lượng bền
vững và thân thiện với môi trường

Topic: Some people think that developing countries need financial help from international
organizations. Others think that it is practical aid and advice that is needed. Discuss these views and
give your own opinion.

There is a difference in opinions as to what form of international aid is more effective for third world
countries. In my view, support in the form of money shows less practicality than other types of useful
aid and consultancy.

On the one hand, I understand why some people argue that it is best to provide financial assistance to
developing countries. Firstly, financial aid from developed countries enables governments of poorer
nations to implement important infrastructural development, such as healthcare systems, fresh water
and power supplies. This can help to avoid stagnation of development and help a country to foster
economic progress. Secondly, when state income from taxes is inadequate, foreign cash injections are
vital to maintain effective administration systems by paying salaries for government staff members in all
sectors of a nation’s government.

On the other hand, I do agree with those who believe that other forms of assistance should be given.
Sustainable growth does not merely depend upon money, but on how a country is governed and
directed, particularly diplomacy and the resolution of serious issues like poverty, crime, and
unemployment. In this spectrum, less developed countries certainly do not have enough experience,
which emphasizes the need for direction and consultancy from other more experienced governments
and organizations. Furthermore, even if financially supported, third world countries still need experts in
the fields of science, law and medicine in order to help maintain their development in such areas.
However, scientists, lawyers and doctors can only be trained, and professional and systematic education
and training programs are therefore more practical and suitable in the context of developing nations.

In conclusion, owing to the aforementioned arguments, it seems to me that instead of monetarily

assisting poor countries, global help should come in other forms such as advice and education.

1. Third world countries: Những nước đang hoặc chưa phát triển

2. Consultancy: Sự tư vấn

3. Provide financial assistance: Cung cấp hỗ trợ tài chính

4. Financial aid: Hỗ trợ tài chính 5. Infrastructure development: Sự phát triển cơ sở hạ tầng

6. Avoid stagnation of development: Tránh trì trệ

7. Foster economic growth: Gia tăng phát triển kinh tế

8. Foreign cash injections: Nguồn tiền nước ngoài

9. Maintain effective administration systems: Duy trì hệ thống quản lý hiệu quả

10. Sustainable growth: Phát triển bền vững

11. Diplomacy and the resolution of serious issues: Ngoại giao và việc giải quyết những vấn đề nghiên
trọng

12. Professional and systematic education and training programs: Chương trình giáo dục và đào tạo
chuyên nghiệp và có hệ thống

Some people think that governments should ban dangerous sports, while others think people should
have freedom to do any sports or activity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Opinions diverge widely on whether dangerous sports should be prohibited due to the potential hazards
to participants. While I understand this argument, my view is that people should have the right to
participate in any sport they choose.
The principal reason in favour of a ban on extreme sports is that such activities are usually accompanied
by a high chance of serious injury or death. A mountain climber, for example, is always in danger of a
fatal fall even with the protection of climbing equipment. Furthermore, some of these sports not only
render the players injured, but also the cheering spectators. Take car racing for example. In Japan in
2004, a Formula 1 race car crashed and debris from the crash flew into the crowd and caused serious
injuries to both the racer and spectators.

However, I believe that people should be free to take part in any sport that they choose, and it would be
wrong to stop climbing enthusiasts from challenging themselves and enjoying the invigorating
experience of standing on top of a mountain peak. If these sports were previously banned, the world
would not have witnessed the amazing feat of the first official ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. In
addition, those who participate in these activities have to undertake rigorous training and experience
for long periods of time to ensure they are in peak physical and mental condition in order to take up
these hazardous sports. Therefore, the concern of the risk element becomes somewhat reduced.

In conclusion, it would be wrong to ban extreme sports, and I think that people should have the right to
take part in any sport they want for the aforementioned arguments.

1. A high chance of serious injury or death: Khả năng bị chấn thương hoặc tử vong cao

2. The protection of climbing equipment: Sự bảo vệ của các thiết bị leo núi

3. Climbing enthusiasts: Những người yêu thích leo núi

4. Invigorating experience: Những trải nghiệm tràn đầy năng lượng

5. The amazing feat: Những thành tựu lớn

6. Undertake rigorous training: Trải qua đào tạo kỹ càng

Topic: The best way to solve world's environmental problem is increase the cost of fuel. Do you agree
or disagree and give your own opinion?

It is believed that traffic and pollution issues would be best tackled by inflating the price of petroleum. In
my opinion, this idea is completely flawed and there are several reasonable alternatives.

Clearly the price of fuel has little to do with pressing problems of traffic and pollution. The inevitable
demand for time efficience and safe commuting in the modern world makes the change of fuel prices
become rather insignificant, which proves the ineffectiveness of the suggested policy. In other words,
even if the price were increased, people would still travel by their preferred form of transport on a daily
basis and the problems of traffic and pollution would remain. Additionally, this solution could easily
trigger social disagreement and resentment. This, coupled with the reluctance of using expensive fuel to
travel every day, could be counter-productive and this proposed idea would become irrelevant.

On the other hand, alternatives to increasing the price of petrol show greater effectiveness. Firstly,
governments could implement certain regulations restricting the use of private vehicles such as cars and
turn people to using public transportation. This would relieve many roads from heavy traffic congestion
by reducing the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn alleviates the problem of pollution caused
by exhaust emissions. Secondly, in many cities around the world, cycling has proved to be an effective,
environmentally friendly form of alternative transport and should be encouraged more in other major
cities. Certain infrastructure, such as separate zones for cyclists, should be created to help avoid the
overload of traffic during rush hour when the number of vehicles can exceed the road’s capacity.

In conclusion, I believe that heightening the price of fuel used for travelling to address traffic and
pollution problems is somewhat absurd; and that there is a number of other more suitable and effective
solutions.

1. Pressing problems of traffic and pollution: Những vấn đề đáng quan ngại về giao thông và ô nhiễm

2. Time efficience and safe commuting: Tiết kiệm thời gian và di chuyển an toàn

3. Travel by their preferred form of transport: Đi lại bằng loại hình phương tiện họ muốn

4. Trigger social disagreement and resentment: Rấy lên sự bất đồng từ xã hội

5. Regulations restricting the use of private vehicles: Quy chế giảm thiểu sự sử dụng phương tiện cá
nhân

6. Relieve many roads from heavy traffic congestion: Giảm tải đường phố khỏi ách tắc giao thông

7. Separate zones for cyclists: Khu vực riêng cho lái xe đạp

8. Exceed the road’s capacity: Vượt quá trọng tải của đường

The society would benefit from a ban on all forms of advertising because it serves no useful purpose,
and can even be damaging. Do you agree or disagree?

it has been argued that a complete restriction on all forms of advertising would be of great value for
society as a whole, due to its apparent lack of usefulness and sometimes harmfulness. In my opinion,
this assumption is highly subjective, and therefore I completely disagree with it.

To begin with, to claim that commercials have no use and are detrimental to consumers is completely
illfounded. We are living in a world where new products with distinct and revolutionary features to
better our lives and solve everyday problems are being released almost every day. We cannot deny the
fact that such products would remain relatively unknown unless advertising was used to reach
customers on a large scale. As a result of advertising, many businesses will thrive, and in turn, pay taxes
to the government which will help contribute towards a variety of governmental systems, such as
education, healthcare and social security. Such systems help to ensure the well-being of all citizens.
From another perspective, dependency on the advertising industry is inevitable for any nation to
prosper. Once commercials, by law, undergo a prohibitive order, unemployment rates would increase
and the burden would fall on the state. For example, Coca Cola dispenses thousands of employment
opportunities in advertising throughout its branches across different regions around the world. If
adverts are forbidden, an unthinkable number of workers, such as marketers, would either be driven to
other jobs or become unemployed. The government, as a result, have to provide temporary financial
support for those people. In other words, banning all forms of advertising would have many undesirable
implications on society.

In conclusion, it is unreasonable to presume that advertisements are irrelevant and need to be

prohibited for the sake of societies best interests.

1. A complete restriction on all forms of advertising: Cấm tất cả các hình thức quảng cáo

2. Its apparent lack of usefulness and sometimes harmfulness: Thiếu sự hữu dụng và đôi khi sự gây hại

3. Distinct and revolutionary features: Những đặc điểm khác biệt và mang tính cách mạng

4. Businesses will thrive: Doanh nghiệp sẽ phát triển nhanh

5. Contribute towards a variety of governmental systems: Cống hiến vào nhiều hệ thống chính phủ

6. Undergo a prohibitive order: Trải qua lệnh cấm

7. Dispense thousands of employment opportunities: Đem đến hàng ngàn cơ hội việc làm

8. Provide temporary financial support: Cung cấp sự hỗ trợ tài chính tạm thời

Topic: Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies.
To what extent do you think consumers are influenced by advertisements? What measures can be
taken to protect them?

These days, due to a highly competitive commercial market, people are exposed to an ever increasing
amount of advertising. I believe that people are highly susceptible to modern day advertising and
marketing techniques, and that certain actions need to be taken to ensure the wellbeing of consumers.

Advertising has become a multibillion dollar industry, and much research has gone into its development
and effectiveness in order to help businesses sell more products and services. And although advertising
can provide many benefits to the consumer, it can also have quite a negative impact on individuals and
society as a whole. One of the negative effects advertising can have is that it can lead people to buy
things that they don’t actually need or even necessarily want. Advertising techniques can make us feel
as though we really need to have something and this can cause people to make impulsive purchases,
which they may not have made if they had made a more thorough decision.

Furthermore, in societies where advertising laws are more relaxed, people are faced with large amounts
of advertising containing many subliminal messages and explicit content. For instance, it is well known in
the advertising industry that sex sells. Creating sexual themes within advertisements can influence
people’s thoughts about not only the product but ideas associated around it. This can have many
negative influences on the minds of people, and in particular children, potentially forming certain
negative beliefs and ideas about such topics.
 In conclusion, for these, and many other reasons, I believe that Governments and other organisations
need to monitor how companies are promoting their products and services in order to protect innocent
consumers. This can be achieved through the regulation of the content of advertisements and the
regulation of the space where advertisements occur, such as billboards and posters. Individual
companies also must take responsibility regarding their advertisements to ensure that they do not
contain subliminal or explicit material that might negatively affect consumers.

1. A highly competitive commercial market: Thị trường thương mại rất cạnh tranh

2. A multibillion dolar industry: Ngành công nghiệp tỉ đô

3. Have a negative impact on individuals and society as a whole: Có ảnh hưởng tiêu cực đến các cá nhân
và xã hội nói chung

4. Advertising techniques: Kỹ thuật quảng cáo

5. Make impulsive purchases: Mua hàng mà chưa suy xét kỹ càng

6. Form certain negative beliefs and ideas: Tạo ra những niềm tin tiêu cực nhất định

7. Regulation of the content of advertisements and the regulation of the space where advertisements
occur: Sự kiểm soát nội dung quản cáo và sự kiểm soát những nơi mà có quảng cáo

Topic: Some people think that people who choose a job early and keep doing it are more likely to get
a satisfying career life than those who frequently change jobs. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

It is said that those who pursue and continue with a particular career choice early in life are more likely
to experience greater fulfilment in regards to their work than those who tend to switch jobs more
regularly. In my opinion, career satisfaction is not determined by when someone chooses a career path
or for how long someone pursues it. This essay will outline some important factors believed to be
involved.

Choosing a career early in life and pursuing it for an extended period of time can have many great
benefits. For example, starting a career early can provide someone with a better financial situation later
in life, and hence greater satisfaction. In addition to this, remaining on a particular career path for a long
period of time may allow someone to advance to the top of their chosen field through promotion, which
may also possibly lead to greater career fulfilment.

On the other hand, those who change jobs or career paths more regularly may also experience many
benefits. For example, some people’s personalities are not suitable for staying in a particular job for long
periods of time, and they may need to change career paths more regularly to stay satisfied. In addition
to this, choosing a career path can be an overwhelming decision for young people without much real
world experience, and therefore exploring a range of different career paths early on may lead them to
eventually finding a career that will be more suitable for them in the long term.
In conclusion, how one person gains satisfaction from their career may be different from another. Some
may gain job satisfaction from how big their salary is, how far they have advanced within a particular
company or field, or how much fame or praise they have earned. Others may be just as content or
satisfied in knowing that their chosen career is beneficial towards serving the needs of others. Either
way, I believe that choosing a career early in life and staying on this career path does not guarantee job
satisfaction later in life.

1. Experience greater fulfilment: Trải qua cảm giác trọn vẹn lớn hơn

2. Remain on a particular career path for a long period of time: Làm một công việc trong một thời gian
dài

3. Greater career fulfilment: Cảm giác trọn vẹn với công việc lớn hơn

4. An overwhelming decision: Một quyết định nặng nề

5. Explore a range of different career paths: Khám phá nhiều ngành nghề khác nhau

6. Guarantee job satisfaction: Đảm bảo sự thỏa mãn trong công việc

Topic: Some people think that good health is very important to every person, so medical service
should not be run by profit-making companies. Do the advantages of private health care outweigh the
disadvantages?

These days many people feel that good health and well-being is essential to all people and therefore
healthcare services should not be run by privately owned companies, whose main objective is to make
profit. Personally, while I do agree with this statement, I also believe that private healthcare services do
have many advantages.

Firstly, public hospitals in most countries are usually overcrowded and underfunded which can put a lot
of pressure on doctors, nursing staff and patients to recover quickly so that more people can be treated.
When people choose private healthcare services it can help to reduce the burden on the public system,
and as a result can also help to reduce the amount of money required by the government for funding. In
addition to this, those who choose to pay for private healthcare services will experience many benefits,
such as the quality and speed of treatments, short waiting times for appointments and operations, and
more private and comfortable facilities.

However, while there are a number of benefits to private healthcare, there are also a number of
drawbacks. To begin with, private healthcare insurance is very costly and many people simply cannot
afford it. In addition, private healthcare insurance is usually paid on a monthly basis, whether you use
the system or not, and therefore many people pay thousands of dollars each year for private healthcare
but never need to use the facilities or services. Many people consider this to be a waste of money.
Furthermore, some people also argue that private healthcare services create inequality between citizens
of a nation as only the wealthy can afford the best and quickest treatment available
In conclusion, I believe that as long as governments do their best to provide a good standard of
healthcare facilities and services for the general public, then private healthcare services can also exist
and provide many advantages that will outweigh the disadvantages.

1. Overcrowded and underfunded: Quá đông và không được đầu tư đầy đủ

2. Private healthcare services: Dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe tư nhân

3. Reduce the burden on the public system: Giảm thiểu gánh nặng vào hệ thống công

4. Private healthcare insurance: Bảo hiểm sức khỏe tư nhân

5. A waste of money: Phí tiền 6. Afford the best and quickest treatment available: Chi trả việc chữa bệnh
tốt và nhanh nhất

Topic: People should look after their health for personal benefits, rather than a duty for a society.
What extent do you agree or disagree?

It has been argued that people today should care for their own personal health purely to enjoy the
personal benefits that are gained from having good health, rather than as a duty to others in their
society. Personally I believe that people should take good care of their health not only to reap the
associated benefits, but also as a way of helping to uplift the lives of the citizens within their own cities
and countries.

Many people claim that the secret to a happy life is through achieving and maintaining good health, and
I also stand by this notion. When someone experiences good physical and mental health they are able to
enjoy their life to the fullest. Good health allows people to pursue their hopes and dreams and enjoy
human relationships with family and friends. Without good mental and physical health, these ideals are
difficult to attain.

In addition to this, today, people are suffering from mental and physical sickness and diseases more so
than ever before. This, in turn, causes a heavy load on a country’s healthcare industry and causes large
financial burdens to the country’s national budget, which comes at the cost of the tax paying citizens. If
people were to look after their health better, it would reduce such financial burdens and the money
could then be spent on other services that would benefit the quality of life for the society as a whole.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that all people should strive to achieve and maintain the highest levels of
health possible not only so that they can be happy and enjoy their own life, but also so that they can
contribute towards a more happy and healthy society around them.

1. Reap the associated benefits: Có được những lợi ích liên quan

2. Uplift the lives of the citizens within their own cities and countries: Nâng cao chất lượng cuộc sống
của người

Achieve and maintain good health: Đạt được và duy trì sức khỏe tốt
4. Experience good physical and mental health: Có sức khỏe thể chất và tinh thần tốt

5. Cause a heavy load on a country’s healthcare industry: Tạo ra gánh nặng lên ngành y tế của một quốc
gia

6. Benefit the quality of life for the society as a whole: Có lợi cho chất lượng cuộc sống của xã hội

Topic: Some people think a job not only provides income but also social life. Others think it is better to
develop social life with people you do not work with. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Nowadays, an increasing number of people are concerned about the impact of their occupation on their
personal life, and whether to establish friendships at work or outside of work is still a controversial
issue. My view is that work can be an ideal breeding ground for social relationships.

Firstly, it is obvious that social connections at work can be fostered when there are shared interests
between colleagues. To be more specific, most workers are motivated by money, and therefore, they
share the same goal. This shows that through work, staff can bond together over a shared interest.
Based on that, they can build up a mutual understanding of one another and gradually enhance their
relationship

Moreover, long hours in the workplace can result in improved bonding between workers. For example,
many Japanese office workers spend up to 8 to 10 hours per day at their company together. During that
time, they are successfully able to cultivate friendship which helps to improve not only their mood and
outlook at work but also their performance.

This is not to say that socialising outside of work is not beneficial. Of course, when making friends from
different walks of life outside of the workplace, people can gain a greater perspective and thus become
a more well-rounded individual. However, building relationships after working hours seems somewhat
impossible since the time available is limited. In my opinion, friendship at work is easier to maintain
compared with outside acquaintances.

To conclude, the workplace can definitely bring many great social opportunities. The public therefore
should start to consider companies and corporations more than just places to make a living.

1. Establish friendship: Gây dựng tình bạn

2. An ideal breeding ground for social relationships: Môi trường lý tưởng cho những mối quan hệ xã hội
3. Bond together over a shared interest: Gắn kết với nhau qua một mối quan tâm chung

4. A mutual understanding: Sự thấu hiểu lẫn nhau

5. Improve not only their mood and outlook at work but also their performance: Cải thiện không chỉ
tâm trạng và cái nhìn mà còn sự thể hiện trong công việc

6. Gain a greater perspective and thus become a more well-rounded person: Có được quan điểm lớn
hơn và vì vậy trở thành người hoàn thiện hơn
Topic: As the number of cars increases, more money has to be spent on road systems. Some people
think the government should pay for this. Others, however, think that the user should cover the costs.
Discuss both views and give your opinion

Opinions diverge widely on who should be responsible for road maintenance costs due to the
proliferation of private cars recently. While some people argue that those who use cars should shoulder
the responsibility for the improvement of road systems, I believe that such costs should be the liability
of the government.

The principal reason why car commuters should take the responsibility for these costs stems from their
overuse of roads. Compared to other means of transport like a motorcycle, a car obviously not only
occupies much more road space, but also wears the roads more due to its larger size and weight. It was
estimated in Thailand in 2015 that the number of private cars made up nearly 85% of total vehicles
commuting on the roads to and from work. As a result, the need for the expansion and enhancement of
roads is mainly to facilitate a more comfortable journey for car users. Therefore, it is reasonable to
assign the costs to car owners to pay for the maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure.

However, I believe that the expenditure for road infrastructure projects should be incurred by the
government for the following reasons. Firstly, the main role of governments is to improve the citizens’
standard of living, and an efficient transportation system is just one of the residents’ basic needs. In fact,
the efficiency in road transport is the backbone of a country’s economy, and therefore it would be
wrong if governments did not give this top priority. Secondly, as in many countries, car buyers are
charged an exorbitant amount of tax in order to own and drive a car on roads, and therefore it is unfair
to solely lay the responsibility for road upgrade works on them. For example, people in Vietnam have to
pay almost twice as much to own a car than in other countries since taxes and fees account for 40- 50%
of car prices. Therefore, it is better to use these taxes for road infrastructure investment, rather than
forcing citizens to pay for it.

In conclusion, although the argument in favor of road infrastructure costs belonging to car owners might
be convincing to some extent, I think that the government should be the one to take the full
responsibility for this.

1. Road maintenance costs: Chi phí bảo trì đường

2. Shoulder the responsibility for the improvement of road systems: Gánh trách nhiệm cải thiện hệ
thống đường xá

3. Facilitate a more comfortable journey for car users: Tạo điều kiện cho người sử dụng xe có những
chuyến đi thoải mái

4. The maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure: Sự bảo trì và cải tiến của cơ sở hạ tầng này
5. An efficient transport system: Hệ thống giao thông hiệu quả

6. Give this priority: Ưu tiên điều này hơn

7. Lay the responsibility for road upgrade works on them: Đặt trách nhiệm cải thiện đường xá lên người
sử dụng xe hơi

8. Road infrastructure investment: Đầu tư vào cơ sở đường xá

Topic: Some people say that it is possible for a county to be both economically successful and have a
clean environment. Others disagree. Discuss both view and give your opinion.

The strength of any nation does not come without costs, one of which is upon the local environment
whose resources fuel each and every sector of the economy. And yet many people believe that a strong
economy and a clean environment can co-exist. I do not entirely deny this belief; however, I find myself
more convinced of the fact that we cannot have them both.

For years, scientists have developed ways to replace traditional sources of exploitation in many fields,
like electricity and fuel. The use of alternative renewable energy from sunlight, wind and geothermal
heat, have been applied in many areas, which helps to keep the environment away from harm. In
addition, many environmental activists say that it is certainly within our reach to minimize the damage
caused by industrial activities and protect Mother Earth. Many have even succeeded in convincing
governments to take action in such regard.

Nevertheless, we should not forget that there are things that make it impossible to relieve our
dependency on natural resources. For example, the automobile, mining and steel industry, are without
doubt taking a heavy toll on the environment on account of carbon emissions and chemical waste. But
those prove to be indispensable and irreplaceable to the progress of many economies. Furthermore,
tremendous damage has already been done, and many people fear that the environment’s state of
cleanliness cannot be restored. Take Beijing as an example. Air quality there is the worst in the world,
with thick layers of smog covering the atmosphere.

In conclusion, my firm conviction is that no matter how hard we try to preserve the environment, while
we continue to exploit its natural resources for the sake of the economy, we will never have both of
them at the same time.

1. A strong economy and a clean environment can co-exist: Một nền kinh tế hùng mạnh và một môi
trường sạch có thể cùng tồn tại

2Traditional sources of exploitation: Các nguồn khai thác truyền thống

3. The use of alternative renewable energy: Sự sử dụng năng lượng bền vững thay thế

4. Minimize the damage caused by industrial activities: Giảm thiểu tổn hại gây nên bởi hoạt động công
nghiệp

5. Relieve our dependency on natural resources: Giảm nhẹ sự phụ thuộc của con người vào tài nguyên
thiên nhiên

6. Take a heavy toll on the environment: Gây nên những tổn thất nặng nề lên môi trường
7. Carbon emissions and chemical waste: Khí thải Carbon và chất thải hóa học

Topic: Space travel has been possible for some time and some people believe that space tourism could
be developed in the future. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Years ago, humans sent spacecraft to explore the universe and satellites into orbit around our planet,
and life on Earth has become better and better since then. Such technology facilitates global
communication, predicts weather conditions and, most importantly, brings a whole new view of the
potential of our technology and engineering. With this solid foundation, sending tourists into space is
within our grasp, and many believe a new tourism industry could be developed in the years to come.
Our climate will be affected, but I think it is an acceptable price to bring wealth and inspiration for future
generations.

Space tourism could have major consequences for the earth’s climate. The emissions from rockets are
enough to increase the temperature in areas around the launch site, and some scientists have
discovered that this also causes temperatures at the north and south poles to increase, leading to global
warming and rising sea levels.

Space tourism however, could easily become a multibillion-dollar industry that will bring great wealth to
any economy that is involved. In the past, only selected astronauts were able to fly into space, but
recently other people, particularly wealthy business figures, have become curious and aspire to have
such an experience. Once orbital flights are arranged on a regular basis and made available for people, a
great deal of money will be paid to travel into space.

Furthermore, space tourism will inspire new generations of engineers, which comes with a promise of
new technological innovations. Travelling into space was once an unreal concept until Neil Armstrong
set foot on the surface of the moon. It motivated millions of young engineers and scientists to reach a
new height in space technology, such as satellites and orbital space stations around the earth. If space
tourism were developed in the future, more and more technological breakthroughs would be expected
to come into being.

In conclusion, I think the benefits from space tourism are much more significant than the harmful
impact it may have on our climate.

1. Facilitate global communication: Tạo điều kiện cho giao tiếp toàn cầu

2. Predict weather conditions: Dự báo thời tiết

3. Bring wealth and inspiration for future generations: Đem đến sự giàu có và cảm hứng cho các thế hệ
tương lai

4. Have major consequences for the earth’s climate: Có hậu quả lớn đến khí hậu trái đất

5. Wealthy business figures: Những nhân vật giàu có trong giới kinh doanh

6. Technological innovations: Những đổi mới công nghệ

7. Technological breakthroughs: Những đột phá công nghệ

Topic: Scientists predict in the near future cars will be driven by computers, not people. Do you think
it is a positive or negative development?

Travelling has been greatly facilitated by a number of technological advances in recent years, and
ultimately, cars will be operated completely by computers in years to come. In my view, this can have
both positive and negative consequences on society.

One of the main disadvantages of autonomous cars is that it will have an undesirable influence on
employment rates of commercial drivers. There is little doubt that these people will be forced out of
work when autonomous cars become the favored preference. This also leads to a more pressing concern
about the associated consequences when unemployment rates proliferate, one of which is the
increasing social burden placed upon the government. Considering the unprecedentedly fast
development of car technology in recent years, such a scenario is likely to occur in the foreseeable
future.

However, we should consider these disadvantages as inevitable factors that accompany a handful of
more significant benefits. For one, autonomous vehicles can accurately navigate their way with less
chance of making errors in judgment like human drivers do, hence, increasing the safety of passengers.
It is true that the majority of traffic accidents come from situations where speed or alcohol is involved,
which would not be the case if cars are operated by computers. Furthermore, such technology will
inspire a new generation of mechanics and engineers, in turn, leading to more inventions that will make
human life easier and more comfortable.

In conclusion, the predicted appearance of driverless cars will severely impact employment in the
transportation industry and result in large social burdens upon the government. Nevertheless, I do think
that those negative consequences are the prices we can accept in order to enhance road safety and
nurture a new era or engineering.

1. Autonomous cars: Xe tự lái

2. Have an undesirable influence on employment rates of commercial drivers: Có ảnh hưởng không
mong muốn lên tỷ lệ việc làm của lái xe thương mạ

3. The increasing social burden placed upon the government: Gánh nặng xã càng càng ngày càng tăng
đặt lên chính phủ

4. Navigate their way with less chance of making errors in judgment: Điều hướng đường đi với ít lỗi
trong việc phán đoán đường đi

Topic: In some parts of the world it is increasingly popular to research the history of one's own family.
Why do people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?
People nowadays are becoming increasingly keen to learn about their family history. There are some
compelling reasons for this; and I strongly feel that this is a positive development.

Most people do research on their family history to find out whether their ancestors had similar
personality traits and to have deeper understanding about their family roots and heritage. Others study
their family history background for less significant reasons, one of which is curiosity. For example, my
uncle used to spend a great deal of time and effort tracing my family tree back to the 18th century just
out of curiosity. Also, I think that news media have a major part to play in this trend. There are a lot of
news articles and advertisements these days that encourage genealogy and convince people that it is
necessary to know about their ancestry.

In my view, this is a good way to teach children about history and how their ancestors lived, which is
linked in part to family traditions. And it is even more important for children to carry on such valuable
and unique traditions, given that this fast changing world is somehow making young generations ignore
the spiritual legacy that their ancestors left. On top of that, family history can be a fascinating topic of
discussion whenever there is a family meeting. How my grandparents struggled to raise their offspring
during the Vietnam War, for example, has become my father’s favorite subject when all my relatives
gather for a traditional holiday feast.

In conclusion, people like to study their family history for a variety of reasons as I have discussed, and
personally, I consider this a positive modern trend.

1. Have a deeper understanding about their family roots and heritage: hiểu sâu hơn về nguồn gốc và
truyền thống gia đình

2. Tracing my family tree: tra cứu cây gia phả

3. Geneolagy: bảng phả hệ

4. Ignore the spiritual legacy that their ancestors left: bỏ quên di sản tâm linh mà tổ tiên để lại

Topic: Some people think it is more important to spend money on roads and motorways than on
public transport systems. To what extend do you agree?

It is argued that money should be spent on developing roads and motorways rather than on public
transport systems. Personally I think both road and public transport systems have vital roles to play in
modern society, and therefore should be equally invested in.

On the one hand, better road quality increases the level of safety and reduces traffic congestion. In
many cities and provinces in Vietnam for example, the number of road accidents is ever-increasing due
to the condition of the road’s surface. This is clear evidence that the government should spend money
improving the quality of road systems in order to ensure the safety of people. Additionally, building
wider roads and more motorways in big cities like Ho Chi Minh, where traffic congestion is still a major
problem, will help to increase the space for a larger number of vehicles, hence reducing pressure on the
city’s main roads as well as congestion.
On the other hand, better public transport systems are beneficial for the environment and people who
do not have a private vehicle. In fact, some modes of public transport like subways produce less
pollutants than cars and other private vehicles. Therefore, spending money providing people with access
to public transport will improve air quality and reduce pollution. Furthermore, for those who do not
have a private vehicle, such as a motorbike or car, buses and subways are a great choice if they have to
commute daily.

In conclusion, for the reasons above, I believe money would be well-spent on not only roads but also
public transport systems.

1. Ensure the safety of people: Đảm bảo sự an toàn của người dân

2. Pressure on the city’s main roads: Áp lực lên các cung đường chính của thành phố

3.Providing people with access to public transport: cung cấp cho người dân quyền tiếp cận phương tiện
công cộng

4. Commute daily: di chuyển đi làm hàng ngày

5. Well-spent: được chi tiêu hợp lí

Topic: The responsibility for the protection of the environment is by a transnational organization or
every country?

Some people argue that protecting the environment should be the duty of each individual nation, while
others believe that it should be the responsibility of a multinational organisation. Personally, I believe
that although each country needs to be responsible for the protection of its own natural landscapes,
there should also be an international governing body that monitors each country’s actions.

First and foremost, the protection of the environment should ultimately be the responsibility of each
individual nation and its inhabitants. A healthy and flourishing natural environment is essential for
healthy human societies. The people who live in a country are the ones who will mainly be affected by
environmental destruction and damage within that country, and it is therefore these people who should
be most concerned. When a country pollutes its atmosphere and water-ways with toxic emissions from
heavy industry, the burning of fossil fuels and incorrect waste disposal, the people of that nation must
breathe that contaminated air and utilise that polluted water, and this can have detrimental effects on
people’s physical health and well-being.

However, unfortunately, many countries governments are riddled with corruption and the best interests
of the people are not always maintained. Therefore, it is necessary for an international organisation to
monitor and educate people about the activities occurring within each country with regards to
environmental issues. Many people around the world simply do not realise the short and long-term
impacts that their actions have on the environment, and I believe that education is one effective answer
to help solve this problem. Another cause of concern is that the actions of one country’s environmental
destruction can have negative impacts on nearby neighbouring countries, and this is where an
international organisation can help to monitor such circumstances.

In conclusion, although environmental protection needs to be the responsibility of each individual

nation, there should also be one transnational organisation that educates and monitors environmental
concerns. There are many countries, yet only one planet, and therefore there needs to be cooperation
in order for a healthy and sustainable future.

1. Multinational/ international governing body/ transnational organisation: tổ chức đa quốc gia/ quốc tế
2. Pollutes its atmosphere and water ways with toxic emissions: ô nhiễm bầu không khí và đường dẫn
nước với chất thải độc hại

3. Riddle with corruption: đắm chìm trong ô nhiễm

4. Short and long-term impacts: ảnh hưởng ngắn và dài hạn

Topic: As life expectancy is increasing, people work after retirement with pay. Alternatively, some
people start to work at a young age. Are these positive or negative impacts?

Over the past few decades, people have become used to the idea that they will have to devote a larger
proportion of their life to working, and some of them even continue to work after the legal age of
retirement. The fact is that as human life expectancy increases, only a small number of jobs will ensure
that people are able to enjoy a comfortable retirement, and therefore, many people are choosing to
enter the workforce much earlier than before. In my opinion, this is a negative development.

I agree that starting to work at a young age is advantageous for young people, but they should only
consider this as a way of gaining experience. Having a job while studying with the aim of saving money
to enjoy retirement is both unrealistic and counter-productive. For one, most part-time jobs students
can do, like bartending or tutoring, only offer quite low salaries, certainly not enough to contribute to
their retirement. Also, many high paying jobs, such as lawyers or doctors, require a qualification that can
take up to 6 years to acquire, and therefore are not possible for young people to do at a young age.

On the other hand, people nowadays are still fit to continue working well into their sixties or even
seventies. I believe working keeps people not only mentally but also physically healthy, which is
extremely important for the elderly. For example, my grandfather admits that he felt so bored and
unhealthy after retirement that he had to set up a workshop near his house and has been working there
ever since. This example also suggests that people should not consider working at a younger age as a
way to save money for retirement.

In conclusion, I understand there are reasons for young people to start their working lives earlier than
the generations of their parents or grandparents. However, working after the retirement age is a way to
enjoy a longer life expectancy, and therefore there is no obligation to have a job and save money from
an earlier age.

1. Devote a large proportion of their life to working: cống hiến phần lớn cuộc đời để làm việc
2. Enjoy a comfortable retirement: tận hưởng việc nghỉ hưu thật thoải mái

3. Counter-productive: phản tác dụng

4. Mentally but also physically healthy: khoẻ mạnh cả về tinh thần và thể chất

The best way to reduce youth crimes is to educate their parents with parental skills. To what extent
you agree or disagree?

It is true that more and more young people are getting involved in crime, and the best way to address
this critical issue is an ongoing debate. There are many ways to prevent youth crime, one of which is
better parenting skills; however, those ways need to be carried out simultaneously if they are to be
effective.

On the one hand, parents are the closest people to their children and are the most likely to be able to
have an impact on their children’s behavior. In fact, the large majority of youth crime nowadays is the
result of inappropriate parenting, and a lack of childcare and crime education. Therefore, it is totally
reasonable to say that improving parenting skills will cause a decrease in juvenile offences.

However, education at home alone is not enough since there are a lot of kids who are not willing to
listen to their parents. In this day and age, children spend the largest amount of time at school, and
therefore are more likely to be influenced by their teachers or friends. For example, in my home country
of Vietnam, many high school students are susceptible to negative peer pressure. This usually leads to
the increasing use of alcohol or drugs, all of which are primary contributors to crime at this age. These
facts suggest that we should introduce education in the school curriculum about the consequences one
may face when committing an offence, as well as help children manage negative peer pressure.

In conclusion, enhancing skills to educate children at home is a good way to curb juvenile delinquencies;
however, I think there is no single best way to achieve this as different measures need to be taken at the
same time.

1. Result of inappropriate parenting and a lack of childcare and crime education: kết quả của việc làm
cha mẹ không đúng cách và thiếu sự chăm sóc cũng như giáo dục về tội phạm

2. Juvenile offences: phạm tội ở tuổi thành niên

3. Susceptible to negative peer pressure: dễ bị ảnh hưởng bởi áp lực tiêu cực từ bạn bè

4. Curb juvenile delinquencies: kiềm hãm sự phạm tội ở tuổi vị thành niên

Topic: There have been many inventions in the human history, such as the wheel. Some people think
the most important thing is the internet. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is true that throughout history, humans have come up with various invaluable inventions. Nowadays,
there is an opinion that among all the things that have been devised, the internet is the most significant.
Although the benefits of the internet in modern life are undeniable, I believe that its importance is still
outweighed by two other inventions, namely, electricity and computers.

To begin with, it is obvious that the appearance of the internet has brought about numerous advantages
to people’s lives. Firstly, thanks to this advanced technology, many people now have access to many
useful sources of information that are necessary for their work or study. To be more specific, nowadays,
information about various fields and aspects of life is shared freely online and available to everyone with
an internet connection. People can therefore easily search for anything that they want within a very
short amount of time. Secondly, the emergence of online-based communication tools has revolutionised
the way people communicate. By using social networking websites and applications, people can keep in
touch with their friends or relatives despite large geographical distances, eliminating the need for old-
fashioned and time-consuming tools, such as letters.

However, from my perspective, despite the mentioned merits of the internet, the role of the two
following inventions is still more significant. First of all, since first being put into use in the early 19th
century, electricity has totally changed the lives of people around the world. This form of energy has set
the platform for many other electrical-based inventions, including a number of technological devices
and the internet, as well as become an indispensable part of the modern world. In addition, for the
internet to be as commonly used as it is now, the prevalence of computers should also be taken into
consideration. Since the first model was created, computers have played a vital role in modern society
as a tool for sending, storing, and receiving data for various purposes and even laid the foundation for
the appearance of the internet. Without this device, the internet might not have even been invented in
the first place.

In conclusion, although the benefits of the internet are obvious, I do consider that electricity and
computers are still more valuable in the world nowadays.

1. The emergence of online-based communication tools: sự xuất hiện của các phương tiện giao tiếp
online

2. Eliminating the need for old-fashioned and time-consuming tools , such as letters: loại bỏ sự cần thiết
của những công cụ lỗ thời và tốn thời gian như là thư

3. Set the platform for many other electrical-based inventions/ lay the foundation for the appearance of
the Internet: đặt nền móng cho…

Some people say that the increasing business and cultural contact between countries is positive
development, while others think that many countries will lose their national identities as a result.
Discuss both views and give your opinion

Nowadays, due to globalization, international business and cultural communication have become more
prevalent on a global scale. Although some people believe that it has a negative impact on a countries
identity, in my opinion, business and cultural exchanges between countries surely has more positive
effects than drawbacks.
On the one hand, those who are worried about international trade and cultural exchange argue that this
trend is detrimental to the culture and tradition of many countries in a number of ways. To be more
specific, international trade has not been entirely beneficial for many developing and third world
countries. The reason being that, the inflow of foreign capital only for export purposes causes the
neglect of production in the domestic sector. Thus, despite large foreign investments, peoples’ lives in
these countries have been minimally enhanced. With regard to cultural exchanges, this can lead to the
possibility of losing traditions and customs in local communities. This is simply because a large number
of individuals in these communities adapt quickly to foreign cultures in the attempts to conform to
ideals not of their own, which can have devastating effects. A typical example of this in the 20th century
is when parts of Cherokee Indian culture and heritage in the USA were lost due to the eagerness of
adapting to the culture of the European settlers.

On the other hand, I do believe that the positive outcomes of cross-cultural activities and international
trade are immense. Firstly, thanks to the rapid advancement of modern technology, internet users have
access to intellectual property, such as films and music, of other countries. The international trade and
business opportunities have helped global citizens to purchase and sell products at a competitive price,
which allows them to have far more options nowadays than in the past. In addition, borrowing from
other cultures can be a positive exchange, as it is conducive to gain a mutual respect and understanding
for new cultures. Providing that international students have opportunities to learn about other cultures,
they are more likely to not only build personal relationships, but also learn about these cultures from a
local perspective, from which they can greatly benefit.

In conclusion, I believe that protecting culture and tradition depends on each country, and these would
not be harmed from business and cultural exchanges with other nations.

1. Inflow of foreign capital only for export purposes: dòng tiền ngoại tệ chỉ cho mục đích xuất khẩu

2. Neglect of production in the domestic sector: sự bỏ bê sản xuất trong nước

3. Eagerness of adapting to the culture: sự háo hức thích nghi với nền văn hoá

4. Cross-culture activities: các hoạt động đa văn hoá

5. Intellectual property: sở hữu trí tuệ

Topic: The news media have become too much influence in people lives today and this is a negative
development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The news media have long been a great part of our lives. In my opinion, contrary to its original objective
of ‘spreading factual news to people’, the media nowadays do more harm than good.

Television and the press, whether conventional or online-based, have influenced virtually every aspect
of our lives. Pop fans rely on tabloids to keep themselves informed of their idols’ lives. Those who are
more concerned with global affairs say that the tensions between Israel and Palestine could not reach
them without the assistance of the news media. Indeed, the media have become our extended eyes and
ears, and it is not an overstatement to say that a day without reading a paper or surfing the internet and
we would be completely ignorant of what’s happening in the surrounding world.

Sadly, such great influences have gradually driven our society in a negative way. Firstly, the media
submerge our society in a horrendous, ever-changing whirlwind of terror and anxiety. Too much news
coverage of terrorism, war, killings and racism can be found on every news site on the internet, and its
impact is so strong that it causes great distress to citizens and can incite violence among many
individuals. Furthermore, our perceptions and perspectives are likely to be manipulated by the news
media, for they are our only source of information. Indeed, we form our opinions about a particular
event based on what we gather from media reports, regardless of the degree of authenticity. Distorted
news leads to distorted minds, social unrest, unjust judgment and global conflicts; which all take their
roots from distorted news.

In conclusion, I believe that the news media has a direct influence on our minds and lives, and it appears
to be detrimental to our way of thinking. Therefore, people need to make good judgments over what
they read in their daily newspaper.

1. Without the assistance of the news media: mà không có sự trợ giúp của phương tiện truyền thông

2. Submerge our society in a horrendous, ever-changing whirlwind of terror and anxiety: nhấn chìm xã
hội chúng ta trong một vòng xoáy khủng khiếp và không bao giờ thay đổi của sự lo lắng và nỗi sở hãi

3. Causes greate distress to citizens and incite violence: gây ra nỗi đau buồn và khuyến khích bạo lực

4. Degree of authenticity: mức độ tin cậy

5. Take their roots from distorded news: bắt nguồn từ tin tức không đáng tin cậy

Topic: People think that children nowadays have more freedom. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

It is generally believed that children nowadays are granted more freedom than those in the past. While I
think, to a certain extent, they do have the freedom to do some things that their parents and
grandparents were probably not allowed to do in the past, I do believe they are in fact being put in a
different cage that only exists in modern society.

Indeed, children nowadays have fewer boundaries in several aspects of their lives which were once
considered inappropriate. Compared to 30 years ago when kids who dyed their hair were considered
rebellious, school children nowadays are able to attend school with whatever hair color they choose,
since most modern schools have relaxed their rules regarding students’ appearance. Furthermore, some
parents who are less strict with the way they raise their children even go so far as to let their kids decide
almost everything affecting their lives, from what to eat for breakfast to which secondary school they
will study at. Therefore, it is not an overstatement to say that children in this day and age are technically
treated like adults, given the amount of leeway they are granted.
However, the 21st century has established other confinements that restrict children’s freedoms. Firstly,
the fear of insecure surroundings has made parents hesitant to let their children out of their sight or
control. Playing football with the neighborhood kids is no longer a beautiful image in parents’ eyes since
they have become too concerned with the possibility of their children being kidnapped or murdered,
and therefore, many parents arrive at the conclusion that it is better to have their children by their
protective side. Secondly, children these days tend to confine themselves to the virtual worlds of
computer games and social networking sites. They voluntarily narrow their worlds to a handful of
platforms, like Instagram, Facebook and online games, with their lives centered around updating their
status, posting selfies and being involved in online virtual warfare, and as a result, they are becoming
enslaved to such platforms.

In conclusion, children these days are indeed free of some restrictions, however have to deal with other
issues related to modern times. Good parenting should aim to give children both extended freedom and,
at the same time, protect them from other potential hazards that lurk in our modern day societies.

1. Put in a different cage: bị giới hạn theo một phương thức khác

2. Have relaxed their rules regarding student’s appearance: nương nhẹ luật ăn mặc

3. Confinements: sự giam hãm

4. Center around: xoay xung quanh

5. Become enslaved to such platforms: bị phụ thuộc vào …

Topic: The users of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, are replacing face-to-face contact in this
century. Do you think the advantages of this way outweigh the disadvantages?

It is claimed that modern technological tools for communication, including social media, are gradually
replacing direct contact among people. From my perspective, the drawbacks of this trend totally
overshadow its merits.

To begin with, it is true that the emergence of social networking websites and applications such as
Facebook have revolutionized the way people contact one another. To be more specific, nowadays,
regardless of geographical distance, people from most places on the planet can send messages or make
use of video calls to keep in touch with their loved ones, eliminating the need for people to gather in
one place for face-to-face conversations. In terms of business, thanks to the invention of online-based
communication tools, including Facebook and Viber, people working in enterprises can conduct their
meetings via the internet, also eliminating the need for people to be in the one place to conduct a
meeting. As a result, face-to-face conversations are gradually being replaced by virtual communication
exchanges.

However, the aforementioned merits are totally eclipsed by the potential negative drawbacks of this
trend. Firstly, in this technological era, with the development of online communication tools, it can be
seen that many people are substituting their real-life relations with digital communication. In fact, a
large number of young people nowadays tend to prefer making friends via means of social media, such
as Facebook and Twitter, to gathering at a real place. In the long term, this would gradually alienate
people from communities, which could even lead to social isolation and a lack of many interpersonal
skills. Secondly, literacy skills of many people could also be negatively affected due to the lack of social
interaction and ways to transmit formal messages. It is true that most individuals, especially teenagers,
often use informal language with several emoticons when communicating on social networking.
Consequently, their ability to read and write in situations that require formality is greatly reduced.

In conclusion, although social media has brought some benefits for society, the drawbacks of overusing
such advanced technology to replace real-life communication is much more significant.

1. Direct contact = face to face contact: liên lạc trực tiếp

2. Virtual communication exchange: trao đổi thông tin qua mạng

3. Substituting their real-life relations with digital communication: thay thế mối liên hệ ngoài đời bằng
giao tiếp trên mạng

4. Alienate people from communitties: xa lánh con người khỏi xã hội